Pioneertown: Tell Them Pappy Was Here

About 35 miles north of Palm Springs, and 20 road miles west of the entrance to Joshua Tree National Park, there’s a hidden gem waiting for the Mojave Desert adventurer. It’s called Pioneertown, and it’s well worth your time. Now, we’re not talking ’bout your usual town, fit for city folk. Once you’re on theComplete Reading

When Hollywood comes to Fort Bowers, Oklahoma, in 1915 to convince legendary lawmen Bill Tilghman to star in a bank robbery talking picture show featuring bonafide ruthless outlaw legends of the period, two very different worlds of Tinseltown and the Old West clash. But when the cast and creators of Bill Tilghman and the OutlawsComplete Reading

Mescal, Arizona, located about 40 miles Southeast of Tucson, Arizona, near the town of Benson, is the home of Old Tucson’s second western movie town location. Situated on 60 acres of land which is leased from the Arizona State Land Department, Old Tucson Studio is surrounded by acres of wide open spaces and not aComplete Reading

The Reel Cowboys honors those who resonate the qualities of the Silver Spur to deserving individuals and organizations. Reel Cowboys works to preserve Hollywood’s history by honoring Western film and television stars.

The 21st Annual Silver Spurs Award Show took place recently at the Sportsmen’s Lodge in Studio City, California. Luminaries such as Patrick Wayne, Dawn Wells, Johnny Crawford, Billy Zane, R.L. Tolbert, Robert Carradine received awards.

One of our favorites being Johnny Crawford, of course. We even made a short video of Johnny accepting this prestigious award from Steve Connors, son of Chuck Connors…

For us and countless others, Jevetta Steele’s haunting lyrics from the song, “Calling You,” from the 1987 indie cult classic “Bagdad Cafe” will forever evoke the particularities of a small desert town on Route 66 contrasted with the vastness of the Mojave Desert.

However, Bagdad Cafe was not actually shot in Bagdad. Not Bagdad, California, and not Baghdad, Iraq.

The award-winning German film, directed by Percy Adlon, was filmed in Newberry Springs at the former Sidewinder Cafe, which decided to let the name “Bagdad Cafe” live on, drawing throngs of international tourists.